A NEW outbreak of foot and mouth has been confirmed in the Northwich area shattering hopes that Cheshire would soon be declared a disease-free zone.

Hundreds of animals have been slaughtered after two new cases of the disease were confirmed in the Arley area.

Cheshire was heading for the all-clear after the epidemic appeared to be on the decline, but at the weekend MAFF officials confirmed the disease has spread to two farms.

On Sunday, 210 cattle were slaughtered at Fir Tree Farm, Crowley,­ a dairy farm owned by Michael Davies and partners. And the next day it was confirmed that the virus had infected a neighbouring farm at High Legh, leading to the cull of 300 dairy and beef cattle.

A MAFF spokeswoman said: 'A couple of flocks of sheep have also been slaughtered on contact premises which had an extremely high risk of developing the disease.

'It had been looking very good for Cheshire, with no infected cases since April 10.

'We don't know yet where the disease may have come from with these two new cases. It is a huge setback.'

Owner of Crowley Hall Farm at High Legh, 63-year-old John Swift, whose dairy herd was slaughtered on Monday, said: 'It is horrendous. We have been farming in this area for 40 years and on this farm for 12, and it is a lifetime's work just wiped out.'